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There was a huge crowd gathering in the park located in the west of Cerulean City. Trainers of all ages and temperaments were waiting, some talking to each other, some stoically measuring up the competition. A hush came over the crowd as a young, bright blue haired woman, wearing a the close fitting red jackets cool trainers preferred◊, ascended the small stage that had been set up outside the mansion facing the park. She raised a megaphone to her mouth, and those in the front rows could she a piece of paper in her hand.

"Hello everyone!" the woman called through a megaphone, "I'm Val Reinbeau and I've been put in charge of refereeing this race. Well I say that, but Grandpa's Team will be actually running it. It's half past eleven now and the race will start at noon. But first I thought I should repeat the rules that Grandpa laid down:

"One, no serious injury to your fellow trainers or pokemon. Anyone who does so, doesn't deserve the prize and will be disqualified.

"Two, the race will be held in a series of legs, the end-point of each being given by a hint. At the end of the leg, the clue for the next won't be given until twelve hours after the first place arrival. This down-time will decrease by an hour each leg. The clue for the first leg will be given at noon. Don't bother asking me, I don't know, and Grandpa only said to wait and see.

"Three, in the interests of a level playing field, use of the move Fly to travel will be restricted. It may only be used to return to towns and cities you have already visited in the race. So for now Cerulean would be your only option. Anyone who cheats by flying to where they think the leg ends will be disqualified. Also in the case that the leg requires the use of field moves that novice trainers do not have, Grandpa's team will assist them with those obstacles and nothing else.

"Four, people are welcome to drop out of the race at any time, and also people can join the race at a later leg.

"Five, remember to have fun!"

"That's all that Grandpa had to say but I have been asked to add: this race has not been officially sanctioned by the Pokemon League. All the normal laws for travelling and battling apply and the race will not be a valid excuse for breaking them. Now, the first clue will be revealed in twenty minutes so just wait a little longer. If you have any questions I'll be happy to answer what I can."

basically just introduce your characters to each other if you want. I'll have the clue revealed shortly.

edited 12th Feb '12 3:41:25 PM by Luthen

Felicia Tyler walked around Cerulean, admiring the scenery and the bright blue sky. Her pet Luxray, Heathcliff, walked by her side. "Isn't this exciting, Heathcliff? I wonder if Cerulean has a library..." Felicia looked down at Heathcliff to see him run off towards a large group of people. "Heathcliff!" screamed Fel, running after him. "Get back here!"

Ashley Gatlocke, listening intently, makes a face at the prohibition of Fly. Her Pidgeot, besides her, makes a low chuffing sound. Ruffling his crest, she smiles softly.

"Relax, Cole. We don't need to Fly."

Running her hand nervously over the other Pokeballs on her belt, Ashley looks around at the crowd and waits for the clue.

Rory Sands adjusted his blue magician's hat as he got ready for the clue. With any luck, this would be a riproaring adventure even more fun than the banana incident.

The crowd hushed again, much more eagerly this time, as Val climbed onto the stage again. The only sound being a couple of digital watches beeping the hour and some pokemon.

Val raised the megaphone and said with a shrug, "Well, it's noon." Those in the front rows, or just luckily tall could see the grey headwear of a Slowking approach Val. She then looked down and had a whispered conversation before holding the megaphone for the royal pokemon.

"Uh, master gave me the clue for the first leg of the race," the Slowking began, her voice nervous but reminiscent of an alto soul singer. "He said: For directions to the future, we must always begin by looking at those who have passed before. Their memories house the next clue."

"There you go!" Val said, "Good luck!"

Leg 1: Off to a rocky start! - Begin!

After catching up with Heathcliff, Fel thought about the clue. "For the future... Look in the past... Their memories house the next clue... A cemetery?"

Fel ran to the nearest library. "Excuse me," she asked the women at the main desk, "does Kanto have a Pokemon cemetey?" The woman nodded, and gave her a map of Kanto, pointing out Lavender Tower.

With the map in hand and a clue unravelled, Fel set out with Heathcliff towards Lavender Town.

A normal looking person began to walk into streetways. With wearing green tops and tan bottoms, he was among the giant crowd of people who listened in. A small, but cute little Kirlia was sitting on his shoulders. An elder Ivysaur walked along him by his side, somewhat ready to go.As soon as the clue went off, the crowd slowly started to disperse, the race now on it's way.

"Hmmm. A place where those who have passed before. Sounds like a cemetery." Nick said to his two pokemon.

"<Sounds like a good place to start, but didn't they take that down a few years ago?>" Nick herd his Ivysaur say.

The joys of having a psychic pokemon translate Pokémon Speak.

"Yea, but they still should have something there." Nick said. "I say we go to Lavender Town and find the Cemetery there."

"<A Cemetery?>" Was what Nick herd, said by the pokemon on his shoulders. "<What's a Cemetery?>"

"<It's a place where you bury pokemon and people when they pass away Hana.>" Ivysaur said to the child pokemon.

"And if our guess is right, our first clue is there." Nick said, taking a seat on a bench. His Ivysaur stood infront of him, and the psychic Hana floated off Nick, taking the seat next to him.

And so, Nick continued to have a conversation with his pokemon. Too all the humans that weren't Nick wouldn't understand what his pokemon companions were saying.
Nick pulled out a map out of his invisible item storage and rolled it out.

"Ok. This is the path for us to go..." Nick started, beginning to plot out how to get there, instead of rushing there.

A small little black pokemon continued to walk, wearing a leather jacket and a leather hat◊, and a belt that had three pokeballs along his waist.

Sneasel shifted through the crowd. It looked around, soaking in the clue and people's takes on where the first clue was. Sneasel began to sneak into the shadows, or at least unnoticed by people's eyes.

Sorry for how long it took. About time.

edited 19th Feb '12 12:48:54 PM by Nicktendonick

On a nearby roof, two figures were lying. The larger one lowered his binoculars while the other slumped from her position holding a dish mic towards the stage.

"Hmm."

"Enough with the 'hmm-ing' Ned," the red headed girl said, poking her partner with the mic.

"Ow, Kelly! That was still on, idiot." Ned turned over and started to slide down the roof. "Come on, we know where the first pitstop is. We've just got to check out what's on offer."

In the shadows of the alley, one would have seen a flash of two red Rs as the duo headed off to Route 9.

Rockets. Sneasel didn't like Rockets. Or any of those Team guys, they rarely had anything good in toe. He noticed the two sneak off. As annoying or evil as those type are, usually they cheat and have the right path.
Sneasel had a good idea.

Tail them, beat them up, take what they got and leave them for the coppers while Sneasel reaped the benefits of their cheating.

The usual. Sounded about right.

He began to follow before he could lose them, he noticed exactly what he didn't want to see.

Nick.

Sneasel rolled his eyes with a sigh. He didn't think the guy would make it here, how in the world did that out of shape human outrun him?
That psychic must have done it. Cute as she was, she could be a absolute killjoy. At the least he had the advantage. Dark types like himself are immune to psychics, and there's no way she can tell he's there.

And he sighed a second time. Seeing how this distraction just cost him the two rockets. He needed to catch up, he needed to avoid his "master", He needed...a distraction. As soon as he noticed he was in the clear...

A short little chill began to run amonst the crowd. And shortly it became a giant chill as snow began to kick up and blow.

Sneasel's Impromptu Blizzard snowstorm kicked up, whatever the like began to happen.

Sneaking through the crowd while it had people's attention, he sneaked pass the pokemon trainer on the bench planning his route and almost got away.

He continued to head foreward towards, hopefully to find the two rockets, or at least towards lavender town.

edited 23rd Feb '12 10:52:38 PM by Nicktendonick

Rory ducked into the nearby bicycle shop to avoid the sudden blizzard.

"That's extremely not very good." Rory said to himself. "How am I going to get to the cemetary now?"

"You need a bike?" The store owner asked.

"I would very much like a bike! How much?"

"One million."

"Oh."

"Look, I have a friend just outside town runs a kinda taxi service. If you need a ride anywhere, go see him."

"Thank you very much good sir!" Rory said in his stage voice as he tipped his hat. He braved the blizzard once again in serch for this taxi service.

Back at the Reinbeau house, Val was answering lingerers' questions. Then the temperature plummeted and suddenly there was snow. Some pokemon must've used Blizzard or Hail.

"Gah, some mons have no respect these days," Fern grumbled. "Keeping your weather, especially cold, to just the battle arena is basic courtesy."

The Venusaur's leaves began to glow, then a bright beam shot straight up towards the sun. Immediately the temperature sky-rocketed, and the bright sunshine could be seen shining on the whole of Cerulean City.

"And that wasn't overdoing it at all was it," Azure snarked.

It was sunny, nice and warm. All in all it was a perfect day for a walk in the park, or so Mary Ann figured. As she walked in the park's general direction, she noticed a flyer lying on the ground. "Hmm, What's that?", she mumbled as she picked it up. "Reinbeau's gold? Ooh, I like jewelry!", she said with a smile on her face. "I'll have to make sure to check that out sometime. Better hang on to it." Just as she pocketed the flyer, a large crowd came running past her, some of which were also carrying a flyer. "Huh? Hey, wait up! ...Wow, there's got to be some major sale or something! But where is this Reainbeau's jewelry shop anyways?"

Not knowing exactly where to go, Mary Ann decides to simply follow someone else in the hopes of getting some clues. ...That guy in green tops and tan bottoms seems to know where he's going.

Nick didn't notice the Blizzard till it hit full force.

"Wha-what the heck?!" Nick said in shock as he felt the strong gust. Hana held onto the seat just to make she was wasn't blown away.

Before anything could be done, he saw a sunbeam shoot up into the sky, the sun growing hot and strong.

The trio all pondered what the heck had just happened.

A minute later, a nice looking girl came up to them.

"Um, hello?" He said, the girl now having his and his pokemon's attention.

Ashley dug through her bag and pulled out her map of Kanjoh, studying it. Cole poked at it with his beak, but she shoved him away.

"Okay... it's definitely a cemetery, and the nearest one is Lavender Town."

She frowns at the map, looking at the towns closest to Lavender. She traced the route from Cerulean to Lavender with her finger, then folded the map and put it away.

"All right, Cole. This is as close as we can get, since I've never been either there or Saffron. So let's get moving."

She recalled the Pidgeot, and sent out a Crobat.

"Marissa, we need to move fast, but I don't have a bike and we can't just fly over there. So instead, we'll do some flying a lot lower to the ground."

"Cro!"

"Good girl. C'mon, let's go."

Marissa hovers a little lower to the ground and Ashley climbs on, hooking her knees above the bottom wings. With Ashley pointing her in the right direction, Marissa zips off towards the route.

Rory and his Pokemon, Alonso the Servine and Flimflam the Meowth, were on the outskirts of Cerulean City when they saw a huge green beam fire into the sky and disspell the blizzard raging in the city.

"Oh, look at that!" Rory said. "A big, flashy, boomy thing! Love a big, flashy, boomy thing!"

Flimflam rolled her eyes. What was the point of having the gift of speech if you were just going to butcher it?

Rory remembered that they needed to find the taxi service. "Allons-y Alonso!" He said to his oldest friend, and they continued their search.

"Hello!", Mary Ann said, replying to the boy greeting her. She then falls silent for a moment before continuing. "So, you're going to get some jewelry from Reinbeau's shop too? Too bad I only found out about that shop today... If I found out about it earlier, then I would be able to learn where it is and go there before everyone else did. Now I have to compete with everyone else without even knowing where it is. Even worse, by the time I finally get there everything may already be gone." -Beat- "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't even introduce myself! I'm Mary Ann West. Just call me Mary. Or Mary Ann. Or Ann, whichever."

Meanwhile, Gizmo, Mary Ann's Meowth, wonders why his feeding person is so dumb at times.

Hana as happy to see the meowth. She psychically said to Mary's Meowth "Hi" like a innocent girl, hopping off the bench.

Nick on the other hand, found the girl cute. "I'm Nick" He said to the girl introducing himself to her.

He pondered the thought that maybe he might be throwing himself in trouble but...

"No...Reinbeau's gold...it's actually a treasure hunt. For whoever gets to the gold first gets to keep it"

Nick was about to open a can of worms...

sorry for taking so long. That one was my fault. I apologize

"Oooh, I see! It's one of those events where the first one to arrive gets everything, and anyone after that is out of luck, right? Well, I guess I'd better get a move on then! ...If I knew where the goal is supposed to be." She looks at Nick, then puts up puppy eyes. "Do you know where we're supposed to go, kind sir?"

"Meowth, Meow!" (Hey, Hello!), Gizmo says while raising a single paw.

Ivysaur sighed. Puppy dog eyes from a cute underage girl. Damn he knew nick was easy to ploy.

Which was exactly what was happening. The 21 year old got sucked in, and caved easily. He put his hand behind his head, and gave an honest answer. Halfway because she was cute and using the puppy dog eyes, the other half was because he wasn't the type who'd wasn't inclined to lying.

"Well, they said someplace involving the memories of those who have passed before. We think it's a graveyard in Lavender town." He said

Down below, Hana gave a big smile and answered back like a child. "Ki! Kirlia kirlia! Ki Kirlia!" (Hi! It's great to meet you! I'm Hana!"

"Okay, Lavender Town, huh? So that would be south to Saffron City, then to the east. Well, or you could go through Rock Tunnel, but I hate Zubats D:", Mary Ann recited, picturing Kanto's map in her head. Aww, that's away from Celadon and its department store... "I hope those annoying guards aren't in the way. Maybe I should go and pick some water up at the local Pokecenter or Pokemart."

“Meow meowth mew! Meowth mrow meow!” (“My name is Gizmo. Nice to meet you too.”), Gizmo said. Upon hearing that his feeding person is going to the market, he turns to her and adds. “Meow! Meowth mew meow!” (“Oh, and don’t forget the fish!”)

edited 8th Mar '12 6:24:18 AM by neobullseye

Rory and his Pokemon eventually reached a small cottage on the outskirts of Cerulean City. A little girl of around eight or nine years of age was cleaning the hubcaps of a battered looking car.

"Hey, I'm looking for the taxi service." Rory said to the little girl.

"Yep. That's me." said the girl.

"Your a taxi driver?"

"Your powers of observation are staggering."

"But how do you even reach the -"

"You ask too many questions."

"Fine. Can you take me to Lavender Town?"

"S'pose." The little girl said as she got to her feet. "I can take you as far as Rocky Tunnel but no more."

"Why not?"

"Because it's a tunnel. Filled with rocks."

"You're very sarcastic for a little girl."

"And you're very silly for a grown up."

After a payment of five chocolate bunnies had been settled on, Rory and his Pokemon were riding in the backseat of the taxi, on their way to Lavender Town.

"I can't believe you convinced me to let you do this," Ned grumbled while he watch his partner place her many Voltorb in places that only she could see as perfect.

"You said that we wanted to prevent the targets getting away."

"And your reply is always to blow shit up. Distraction: blow shit up. Get-away-plan: blow shit up. Baking-cookies: blow shit up."

"Hey! Those cookies were delicious."

"Sure they were. Everything set?"

"Yes, boss. We just need to get clear."

The Rockets moved a little ways along the cliff top down Route 9. Hiding behind some rocks they watched the competitors enter the route. After twenty minutes Ned decided that all the decent trainers had entered the route (someone with a driver had to be rich right?). The turned to Kelly and nodded. She sent out her Magmar and it sent up a short, bright burst of flame into the sky.

That was the signal for the Voltorb to do what they did best. Self-Destruct.

Boom!

Over a dozen explosions destroyed the cliffs surrounding the entrance to Route 9. Whoever was below would have barely enough to scramble for safety before they caved in, sealing the route.

"There we go," Kelly said brushing her hands clean.

"Yeah, yeah. Now we need to get to Rock Tunnel for phase 2."

edited 14th Mar '12 3:37:05 PM by Luthen